Understanding Holliston's fall Town Meeting warrant

HOLLISTON – Residents will decide the fate of roughly $2.7 million in upcoming projects at Town Meeting this month.

“These are all maintenance issues, more or less,” Town Administrator Jeff Ritter said, calling the list part of a proactive approach. “Instead of waiting for something to break we’re … getting it addressed now.”

None of the projects triggers an override. The most expensive, about $1.8 million in water main replacements, will be financed through water reserve and surplus accounts.

That project will affect more than one area in town, including Cedar Street and Hanlon Road. The cost includes further design services for Winter Street as well. The Water Department did not return a call by press time requesting an estimated timeline for the water main replacement.

Other capital requests on the warrant include replacing the fire department’s rescue truck, buying three police vehicles and a pick-up truck with plow, and replacing the Town Hall doors.

The vehicles should be purchased within the next six months, Ritter said, and he hopes to replace the Town Hall doors by the spring.

“They’re on their last legs,” Ritter said, though he emphasized that they currently work.

Approval of Article 13 would let the town begin the process of re-shingling the library’s roof and HVAC system – hiring a consultant to prepare a bid. Ritter said the roof is about 30 years old. If approved, Ritter said he hoped to pin a price tag on the project by May.

Recreational marijuana

Voters will also decide on a recreational pot shop moratorium. If approved, the moratorium would last through December 2018.

Holliston voted to ban recreational marijuana sales at both Town Meeting and an election this past spring. The Town Meeting ban approved in May was a straightforward question, not the zoning language authorities suggest for a ban, prompting the moratorium at the end of the month.

“It’s still unfolding at the state level,” Ritter said, “and until it’s sorted out with the Cannabis Control Commission what the regulations are going to be, we want to (consider) a moratorium until December 2018.”

Condominiums and a liquor license

Article 17, if approved, would allow condominium associations to request town curbside trash and recycling pickup.

The town has about 500 condominiums. Ritter estimated a cost of about $150,000 per year, should every condominium choose to use town pickup services.

Voters will also decide whether to ask the state for another all-alcohol liquor license. This article is a citizen’s petition on behalf of The Wine House, whose owners asked selectmen for an upgrade from their wine and malt beverage license earlier this year. Selectmen were unable to award the license, because all of Holliston’s all-liquor licenses are in use.

Holliston’s fall Town Meeting is Monday, Oct. 30. It kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Holliston High School auditorium, at 370 Hollis St.

Alison Bosma can be reached at 508-626-3957 or abosma@wickedlocal.com. Find her on Twitter at @AlisonBosma.